Village Idiot of the Day: November 14, 2009: Linda Stevens, glock45

Obviously we've been away again. As we wrote earlier, it is becoming increasingly difficult to read the lumpen prolitariatisms emanating from Canton, Ohio. We trust that most of these commenters keep their mouths shut at work (if they have jobs), school, and the Elks. Or maybe class envy, racism, misogyny, illiteracy, classism, greed, and wacky Christian sectariaism is the normative ethic in Canton, and nobody notices. And we can't even blame fluoride in the water for it.

We've been perusing posts, clothespin on nose, and have been greatly amused at the reaction to the news that the old Ambassador Motel (we couldn't find a picture of the motel, so the picture at the right will have to do) is being turned into a transitional home for ex-cons. Now anyone who's been in Canton for more than 10 minutes knows that the Ambassador has been a whore and crack house for at least 30 years. In fact, IHC cant' even remember when it wasn't, and we've been around a lot more than 30 years. IHC may have been 9 years old and not understood the nuances, but we knew a seedy pit stop when we saw one.

It all started with the October 31 Housing Facility for Former Inmates to Open in Old Motel. Comments from the local locals--that is, those who pristine Ambassador Motel neighborhood is soon to be invaded by monitored cons, rather than the regular unmoderated junkie/trollop class, were axed. But our memory tells us, outside of the general doom and gloom keening, some complained that their property values had plummeted LAST year, even though the facility hasn't even opened yet THIS year.

Official lumpen reaction, however, comes from Linda Stevens, who in her letter, Former Inmates Have No Business Living in Residential Canton Twp. Neighborhood, vows to keep her neighborhood clean of convicted scum:

Why did the Rev. Kenneth Lancaster pick this neighborhood? Why not his? I believe I am speaking for all the residents of this area. First of all, there is a school eight-tenths of a mile from the motel. I thought convicted sexual predators can’t be around children within less than a mile. The staff will work with the inmates a few hours a day, and then most will go home and lay their heads to rest while we have to live in fear of our children and grandchildren being abducted or killed, vandalism and robbery. Where do the inmates get their money to go out? There is a pizza shop next door. How many times will it get robbed? There are bars down the road....

This won’t be the last that Rev. Lancaster and the Canton Township Board of Zoning Appeals will hear from us. Come on, Canton Township area, let’s fight. Express your opinion and we will do what we have to do.

Backed by glock45:

glock45

"I think the Rev. is trying to help these individuals so they don't end up back in jail'

The rev is trying to line his pockets with your tax dollars.

'however, when a man, or even a woman comes home after serving time, they usually resort to a life of crime, because they need money to find a place to stay, they need money to eat. If no one will give them a chance, a job, what in the world do you want them to do, starve, sleep under a bridge?'

They had a choice, just like all of us, to live a law abiding life or choose a life of crime. They chose crime. Too bad for them if they can't get a job or housing. Their choice, their consequences. No matter in prison or a halfway house like this...it's still our tax dollars. I say keepem locked up.

No sympathy here if you choose crime. I chose not to commit crimes, unlike some (sympathizers).

We are not without a modicum of theoretical sympathy for Linda and glock, but where were they when the Ambassador was operating? We fail to see why rockheads and whores-run-wild are more acceptable neighbors than hand-selected, monitored ex-cons, and they don't tell us.

For failure to communicate, we award glock45 second place in today's Village Idiot competition. Linda Stevens, without saying, wins first place.

We also give a gold star to Otterk1k for apologizing to Mary Parker in this same thread:

Otterki1 wrote originally:

Ottertk1

Good luck Ms. Stevens. The bleeding heart liberals will fight you tooth and nail as most believe that all felons can be rehabilitated. The people that live in the real world know that this will be a diaster for the community. Children will have to be watched when outside. Woman and children alone in their homes will have to lock all their doors and windows and be on guard 24 hours a day. They say that 70% of our crime is commited by repeat offenders. Just think, if we could get rid of the felons, our crime rate would drop by 70%. Of course this will never happen as too many people pay no attention to these things until they become a victim.

and when taken to task by Mary Parker, replied:

Ottertk1

Mary V Parker, You are right and my comment was really off the wall. I guess I'm just sick and tired of all the crime. My daughter just bought a house and it was broken into while they were moving in. $8000 in electronic equipment was stolen. This is a good neighborhood in Akron with two police officers living on either side of my daughter. Anyway, you are right, these people deserve a second chance, a place to live, clothing, and food to eat. Please forgive me for that idiotic comment. I'll try and not let my emosions over come me.

We promise not to grant Otterk1 a VIOD for the rest of November.

Dead Threads: November 8-14, 2009

It's a given that any comments about James Mammone will summarily executed as many believe Mr. Mammone should be. We don't remember though, seeing anything very egregious before this was pulled. Better safe than sorry?

Judge Says Mammone Trial Will Remain in Stark County

and

Czar-Happy Obama Flouts Constitution.

Dead Threads: October 24- November 1, 2009

Our prolific cold war warrior and letter writer Mary Alice Booher-Rauber continues to channel Herb Philbrick--and got her thread cut. In 60+ years of letter writing has she ever had anything nice to say?

Obama and God

Village Idiot of the Day: October 27, 2009: pt-king

We've heard a rumor that I Hate Canton went to grade and high school with "pt-king." We don't know, but we hope not. Especially after yesterday's declamation in Letter: President Focuses Our Attention on Important Matters that only people who are "smart enough" to be landowners should be allowed to vote. Holy Frank Manello!

pt-king
Wow...this guy has truly bought into the smoke and mirrors and is clueless about what is really happening. Another great reason why only land owners should vote.

pt-king
No Don, I meant landowners. Generally if you are smart enough to save up and buy land you are smart enough to vote.

We are fully cognizant of the Founding Father's fear of the rabble as well as what at the time could be construed as sound reasons to limit the franchise to the landed.

We are also cognizant of the current conservative discourse on the folly of universal suffrage. In September, John Derbyshire, for instance, told Alan Colmes that he wouldn't lose any sleep if women were disenfranchised since they "want someone to help raise their kids, and if men aren’t inclined to do it — and in the present days, they’re not much — then they’d like the state to do it for them.” (Ann Coulter agrees with Derb. Take away women's vote and the Democratic Party folds).

This was too much even for mainstream disenfranchisers who responded that women in this day and age actually own property in their own name and run their own businesses; therefore are worthy of a place at the table. Disenfranchisement fan Chris Wysoki, draws the line at gender (and race) restriction, but argues that voting should be proportionate to the amount of taxes one pays. That is, the more taxes one pays, the more political clout he or she should have.

No one asks who Madison and Mason would consider the rabble today: rent seekers or Wall Street golden paratroopers.

Well, whatever.

With the enactment of universal manhood suffrage, the 17th Amendment, and woman suffrage, it's been under the bridge for decades. It's unlikely that Americans, outside of Ann Coulter, would vote to take their own vote away.

pt-king, Village Idiot of the Day, October 27, 2009

Dead Threads, October 18-25, 2009

IHC is in a dither. We forgot to post this over the weekend.

Doctors Leave Patients as Suspect Screams for Help at Hospital

Needy Get Free Tax Help and Can earn $5,657 Credit, Too

Village Idiot of the Day, October 22, 2009: Stark County School Officials, Cpt Kuncles, jdp66, cal2412

We'll make this long and sweet today: Cursive Writing.

Who knew that the teaching of cursive writing is a form of child abuse? Or that, in fact, handwriting is as moribund as the buggy whip?

KSU-Stark English comp professor, Stephen Neiderhiser, that's who. Quoted in Cursive Writing in Danger of Becoming a Lost Art, Neiderhiser says, "

“I had a lot of difficulty learning cursive as a young person, so I was kind of jubilant when I heard it was going out of style. For many people, in my field and in the discussions of teaching of writing, the idea of what it means to be able to write cursive has become kind of antiquated.”

Neiderhiser said he doesn’t use cursive but “can sign my name in a very stylized way as many people do.”

(Note: Obviously, Prof Niederhiser was traumatized by the murder of Claude Deagle and the subsequent theft of his penmanship medal; thus, his irrational fear of cursive writing and the threat he believed it held to his very life. We are happy that Prof. Niederhiser, after years of therapy, has overcome his fear and can now sign checks and grade rosters. We urge him to continue treatment.)

Secondly, we have Scott Blake, a media relations specialist (whatever that is) from the Ohio Department of Education promoting a "local option" for handwriting instruction:

“Our content standards address the use of cursive writing starting in grades three and four, but there is no state assessment or measurement of cursive writing in particular,” he said. “The content standards for all subjects are guidelines, but the curriculum that districts use is a local decision.”

Thirdly, we have Matt Ille, the North Canton City Schools District's instructional supervisor (whatever that is):

But learning to write cursive isn’t easy. That’s why North Canton City Schools uses the program, “Handwriting Without Tears.”

The method, says Matt Ile, the district’s instructional supervisor, is meant to ease the task for students so that the emphasis is not on forming perfect letters, which can bring some students to tears.

“We like it because it got rid of the stigma that writing had to be pretty,” Ile said. “Handwriting can be laborious for some children. We did not want it to become an impediment for children who wanted to write.”

NOTE: Handwriting without Tears"???? Gee, IHC doesn't remember anybody crying when we learned to write. But that was then. Today we wouldn't want our little darlings to suffer and stigma over such an archaic skill as handwriting would we? To compensate for their dullness and lack of pencil dexterity our 10 O-Clock Scholars might have to stuff down an afterschool Happy Meal; thus, reflecting the real problem in education today: fat kids. (see below)

Fourthly we have Jackson Local Supt. Cheryl Jaschak:

“Most people don’t think we teach it anymore because kids aren’t writing as much as they used to,” she said.

Even though students are not tested for proficient handwriting on state achievement exams, “I still think you have to sign your name, and you need to know cursive writing for that,” Haschak says.

Testing has drilled cursive writing down to a minutia, said Haschak. The basic 21st century skills employers are seeking are teamwork and critical thinking.

Art, music and physical education aren’t on state tests either, “but what’s the biggest push right now in our country? Wellness and obesity,” Haschak said. “If we don’t connect those areas I think we’re in trouble.”

Excuse my English, Cheryl, but WTF???? Are we really having a serious discussion on the usefulness of handwriting and the skill's marked insignificance compared to "teamwork" and "critical thinking?" Since when has "critical thinking" ever been considered a virtue in the classroom OR the workplace?

What next? Reading? Why bother to luxuriate in Jane Austen or James Ellroy (who writes all his novels in cursive) when you can pop in or download an audiobook to listen to when you jog.

Handwriting itself is solitary act of thought, intellectual deliberation, and dare we say, even art, though we admit most, including ours, isn't up to Palmer standards. The handwritten word is the core of ideas, expression, and creation. without the mediation of contemporary technology. And what happens when that technology goes away, or doesn't exist?

We all know what the real problem is, and it's not kids being abused by the cursive alphabet. It's lazy teachers and parents who think cursive should be scuttled for...well, we're not sure what. Kuymbaya time in the classroom? News flash: school is not supposed to be fun . Ever try algebra?

Here's what our locals have to say:

Cpt_Kunckles
Let it go. Cursive isn't worth the time and effort of teaching it. A good replacement would be shorthand. At least shorthand still has a legitimate purpose. Using written letters or signatures as a reason to continue to teach Cursive is shortsighted, nostalgic reasoning. Younger generations rarely bother to hand write a letter and most contracts are signed digitally. E-mail and texts are the future, as well as 'Do you accept' buttons on computers. Are children would be better served learning almost anything else.

jdp66:
Cursive writing is a dinasour. Let it go.

cal2410
How about we teach students how to string together coherent thougts to form sentences and paragraphs first? Using correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar is far more important than old fashioned penmanship. When is the last time you had to write something in 'cursive' at work? I know I never do.

Well, good for Cal. Personally IHC has never had a job, outside of stuffing ad supplements in newspapers at 50 cents an hour, in which handwriting wasn't important. We'd love to know what Cal does for a living. Artificially inseminate chickens?

Here's what commenter jdr1wiz as to say about Cal's claim. We don't believe Cal will be working for him in the near future.

jdr1wiz
I am a professional accountant and I regularly write memos and results of my work in cursive because as I was brought up, cursive is the language of the professional. Unfortunately, that is not completely the case anymore. Oftentimes when I encounter a new person younger than I, they cannot read it. Yet all of my superiors write in cursive and I think appreciate that a younger person has a grasp on this artform....

...Personally, I want teachers to focus on handwriting and grammar. In my profession, the use of handwriting will not be subsiding during these kids lifetimes and one day when I am the boss if I get some new college grad who can't write they are in trouble. Similarly, teachers should focus on grammar and sentence structure. I know I am not that old, but it seems like kids just 5-10 years younger than me are dumber than rocks when it comes to putting together a comprehendable sentence. Shorthand, misspelling, and poor grammar are the norm... and again when I am the boss I will have none of that crap.

And here's commenter bbj with a scary real life story:

bbj:
Cursive-writing-is-in-danger-of-becoming-a-lost-art" Maybe it depends on which you school your kids attend. My son who is 17 had barely a week of cursive in school. As a result, he cannot write in cursive. He couldn't even sign his name on a job application until I showed him. Sure, some schools my 'mention' it, but there is little to no follow through with learning it or using it. My daughter is a little bit better, but not much.

If the entire argument that meaningfulness of handwriting boils down to a signature, why not just teach students to make a "mark" It it was good enough for Americans 150 years ago, it's good enough now.

We grant our local professional education experts Stepehen Neiderhiser, Scott Blake, Matt Ille, and Cheryl Jaschak; and our local illiterates: Cpt. Knuclkes, jdp66. and cal2410, Village Idiot of the Day, October 22, 2009. They also receive a basket of kisses courtesy of IHC. We give the Rhoda Penmark Memorial Penmanship Award to djriwiz and bbj for demanding cursive standards. Rhoda is proud of you, but wonders how far you'd go to preserve cursive.

Village Idiot of the Day, October 19, 2009: lefthook37, cal2410, gojojogo

Today we have the case of Pleasant View Village Trailer Park resident and Luddite Jill Saylor who has the temerity to hang her laundry out on the line to dry--instead of sticking it in a dryer like any other civilized Plain Township citizen. See, according to Plain Woman's Laundry List is Read 'Round the World, sun-drying one's laundry, especially if you're eco-conscious, is against the rules of the clothesline nazis.

You'd think our local "conservatives," even if they don't subscribe to global warming theory, would be offended by a rule that subsumes individuals to nonsensical rules abrogating autonomy in even the smallest acts. But let's not forget we're talking about Reppies.

While most commenters agree with Ms. Saylor's freedom to sun-dry (which has been covered by the New York Times, and other MSM), a few are greatly aggrieved that a dumb climate change dupe dares to break the laws of her trailer park.

It looks like Bummy, always a sentimental favorite, posted something that has been removed before we saw it, so, unfortunately he's removed from the running this time. This leaves us with lefthook37, cal2410, and gojojogo.

In chronological order:

lefthook37, who with his status as Vietnam War vet replaces Professor Irwin Corey as the World's Greatest Authority wrote:

Oh my God, now we're going after clothes dryers. next we'll down at the creek flogging our clothes on the rocks. what is this have to due with the trumped up globlal warming idea from the left moonbats, looks to me that she lives in a trailor park and may not have a dryer or washer. so hang em out side then a flock of geese goes by and your back down at he creek flogging the clothes on the rocks again. stop pushing this crap on everyone else If you want to save money fine don't lable it as saveing the planet. I LIKE MY DRYER matter of fact , I'm going down stairs and run it empty

and

lefthook37

justice4none out standing post , calling me stupid, dumbo and jerk and I've not done anything worthwhile in my life, and can't spell right on the point ,and a personal bash ( pool rules ) which I had not bashed the young lady, and I did not know you were a english spelling teacher, as far as worthwhile things in my life, I rased two kids both servied in the military, I myself 18month vet of Viet Nam being shot at and seeing my friends being wounded, laying in mud voteing in a foxhole, not knowing if I would ever see home again, just so you have a right to call me stuped and dumb I'm gong down to turn my dryer off. And Glenn Beck has nothing to due with this

While lefthook37 may be suffering from IID (Inflated Importance Disorder) cal2410 offers up no credentials other than a dislike of rebellion:

cal2410

Call me cynical but I have a feeling that this was more about a lower electric bill and way less about the environment. She is lucky they didn't kick her out after she took it upon herself to hang a line behind her trailer, knowing full well it was against the park rules. That's what is wrong with this country today--everyone saying 'You can't tell ME what to do!' and fighting until they get their way like a spoiled 5 year old.

gojojogo exhibits a newly articulated problem: Media Attention Envy Disorder. He also possesses the longest shower curtain rod in Stark County.

gojojogo
That's going to make a trailer park look even more trashy. I totally get why the trailer park managers wouldn't allow it. She doesn't need to use the dryer if she doesn't want to but she can hang stuff from her shower curtain rods for all the space that stupid little line is giving her.

These entries are far from the most idiotic comments we've ever read. We wonder though, why anyone even cares what Ms. Saylor does with her laundry or why she does it.

For sheer audacity, we name lefthook37 Village Idiot of the Day, October 19, 2009. We are so enthusiastic about lefty's authority skills that we recommend he expand his Viet Nam War expertise to higher levels of problem solving: Barrack Obama's birth certificate, Jamie Healy's budget, and repair of the JFK fountain.

Cal, comes in a close 2nd. Give Saylor a clothesline today and she'll want my carbon footprint tomorrow. Check the Cast of Characters; Plotlines sidebar to the right for other Cal comments, including his condemnation of drive-thru window child support payments.

gojojogo gets an Honorable Mention. We suggest he rent out his shower curtain rod. Many dryerless and clotheslineless women would be forever grateful.

On general principle, we also offer a special VIOD Award to the Pleasant View Village Trailer Park owners and management. They should hook up with the Central Commons Condominium Association in Perry who don't like military families sticking Blue Star Flags in their windows. (See "home owners association rules in sidebar).

Canton Class Envy: Mitchypoo

I Hate Canton missed this article and comment until a few minutes ago: Happy 100th, Hartung House.

Who would complain about the 100th anniversary of Hartung House, the former Philomatheon Society for the Blind and now the home of the Canton Preservation Society? Well, Mitchypoo would:

Mitchypoo
Hip Hip Hooray for the Nice Rich People!!!! ... oh by the way, where is the city of Glenmoor??? ...I'm glad theses people are not so self absorbed and material that they list their 'Gated' Counntry Club as their address .... face it you live in CANTON, OHIO, so they are just hillbillies with more money than the rest of us!

I Hate Canton has a fondness for architecture and always loved the Neoclassical Hartung House, built a century ago by prominent residents Louis B and Minnie Hartung. We have a vague memory of going there with a group of classmates to sing Christmas carols to Philomatheon residents, who to put it mildly, were pretty elderly. It was a classy place, unlike the nearby nose-holding Fern Wanda Rest Home we also serenaded that day. (Note to IHC: Don't grow old unless you're rich).

As for a Village Idiot designation, even Village Idiots have their standards. Unfortunately, for Mitchypoo, he is unable to rise to them.

Class envy is never pretty. We bet he hates the poor, too. Bring on the tumbrels.

And the say I Hate Canton hates Canton!

Dead Threads - October 11-17, 2009

Racists and crazees continue to shut down Rep threads. Here's what we noticed this week. We knew for sure that the first thread would be shut down: it was a letter from Mary Parker and an easy target.

Letter: Saying Obama's Supporters Want Messiah Insults Voters, God

NAACP Marks 100 Anniversary

Former Carroll County Assistant Prosecutor Asper to Spend 112 days in Jail for Stealing from Clients

Village Idiot of the Day, October 16, 2009: dsteelman1, ohiodude

Reppie bloodletters are at it again.

When we last left dsteelman1, he'd won a IHC-CIA -sponsored trip to the Middleastern country of his choice to whack as many prisoners he could work into his 10-day vacation. Unfortunately, the tickets remain in our Hartville mail drop awaiting pick-up. Now, he's proferring a suggestion that the State of Ohio can clear out its bloated prisons by shooting all of its "violent" prisoners and then move in the "misdemeanor' folks" to fill the vacuum. And, we assume, save dreaded government jobs for the (mostly) lesser class, though he fails to mention that windfall

In Ohio Prison System to Cut Jobs, Close Facilities, DP writes:

Im almost in the Marley camp on this one. Im hoping for a little more in the anarchy department .

ANyone who thinks all the prisoners are just misunderstood victims of their upbringing, please start protesting to get ALL of them released.

It would be like Mad max in this state. Maybe then some of you criminal lovers would get a dose of reality.

You want better prisons?? Then make the prisons for the 'misdemeanor ' folks.

Shoot all the violent offenders. You would have plenty of room then. Lower taxes due to less people in prison. I say its a win-win.

But most people today think the criminals have an excuse for thier crimes and will moan and cry if they are really punished( death penalty ) for their crimes.

Someone on here said we have 4 million people in the prison system. How bout we shoot all the violent ones and see how fast people shape up??

We also have a (for now) nicer kinder ohiodude hinting that convicted felons are all Democrats headed for the Halls of Congress and the Whitehouse:

ohiodude
wow, here are more democrats that can run for office. since they no longer have to live in cells, maybe one can perhaps make it to congress, the house of representatives and maybe the white house too!

We thereby name dsteelman1 Village Idiot of the Day, October 16, 2009. ohiodude is our runnerup.

For more news on both, go to the Cast of Characters; Plotlines sidebar and click them on. (be sure to look at labels with "marks.)

Finally, we repeat what we wrote last month:

We find it amusing, if that is the correct word, when law-and-order, Constitution-carrying Reppies shred their beloved and favorite legal document when it comes to crime, criminals, and execution. Seems the Constitution and its protections are only for well-behaved, law abiding citizens. Like them.